With just four returning positional starters this season for Cal Poly softball, every non-conference game will matter in more ways than one.
The Mustangs have a month to set a consistent and trustworthy starting lineup in stone before the conference season begins.
Cal Poly softball lost four of their six 2024 All-Big West honorees over the offseason, including Jessica Clements, Sophia Ramuno, Xiara Diaz and Juju Sargent.
With this lineup, Cal Poly placed third in the conference with an 18-8 Big West record, going 28-17 overall.
While Diaz and Sargent both graduated, Clements and Ramuno left via the transfer portal.
The transfer portal’s influence
Clements, after having one of the best individual seasons in program history and earning Big West Player of the Year, transferred to play for UCLA. She had a .464 batting average in 2024, ranking fourth among NCAA Division I hitters.
Head Coach Jenny Condon said that although it was disappointing to see Clements go, she was proud Clements could get her degree from Cal Poly before transferring, which is “all [we] ask for the student athletes.”
The pitching staff heavily relied on Sophia Ramuno last season, who led the Big West with 160 strikeouts last season and pitched five shutouts to earn First Team All-Big West.
Ramuno transferred to the University of Washington for her junior year.
“Some people are benefiting, but I think [the transfer portal] is really impacting a lot of programs negatively,” Condon said. “There’s the kids that do stay loyal and I think that that’s really impressive, and hopefully we can recruit the right kids that want to stay with our program.”
New leaders and new faces
Ten players out of 23 from last year’s roster departed, which was “probably the most players we’ve lost after one year,” according to Condon.
Despite losing two key players and more, some vital veterans will return to take on leadership roles for the Mustangs.
2024 Big West Co-Defensive Player of the Year Julia Barnett returns for her senior season behind the plate.
“I started here and I really wanted to leave my mark here in four years as a Mustang,” Barnett said.
Some other confirmed starters include juniors Kiara Blanchard and Mylena Garza. Blanchard earned All-Big West Honorable Mention last year and will move from left field to center, while Garza will start at third base.
As of now, Condon has not determined which other players will take starting roles, but the answer will be clearer after the Mustang Classic.
Cal Poly is hosting the Mustang Classic from Friday, Feb. 7, until Sunday, Feb. 9, with two games against Ball State and three against Oregon State at Bob Janssen Field.
A matchup against Ball State on Thursday was canceled due to rain.
Saturday, March 8, marks their first Big West game of the season as the Mustangs play CSUN.
“They’re all showing moments of excellence, and then we’re showing moments of inexperience,” Condon said. “We’re young and we’re excited to just get out there and play a different team.”
Five freshmen joined the program as positional players: Sienna Erskine, Alannah Tuua, Maddy Bermudez, Aly Barrios and Maya Venegas.
Venegas is expected to back up Barnett in the catcher position.
The pitching rotation will also look different after Ramuno’s departure. Seniors Kate Judy and Paige Maier both had winning records last season, but no true ace has emerged yet.
As a senior on the pitching staff, Judy makes it a priority to establish strong bonds between the pitching staff on and off the field.
“I love being someone for the freshmen to look up to,” Judy said. “I remember Caroline Allman taking me under her wing my freshman year and I remember that being huge for me.”
Three freshmen pitchers in Ava Doyle, Bree Brennan and Natalie Camarena, joined the roster this year.
Most notably, Camarena recorded a 1.81 ERA over her high school career, paired with a .567 batting average and six home runs her senior year.
A new postseason and its benefits
According to the Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Mustangs are projected to finish fifth in the Big West conference after placing third last season, Cal Poly’s first winning season since 2017.
Cal Poly must finish the season in the top six in order to play in the first-ever Big West Softball Championship tournament. The winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
Since the Mustangs may not find the right lineup right away due to big roster changes this season, the prospect of a postseason tournament may be advantageous for this team.
Condon recalls herself and other Big West coaches pushing for a conference tournament for multiple years. She is excited to have an opportunity to compete in a postseason championship.
“If we can continue to get better as the season goes and learn, I think that will be in good shape for the conference tournament,” Condon said.
Their first matchup of the season will be against Oregon State Friday at 2 p.m. followed by a game against Ball state at 5 p.m.
